“One guy went straight over the barricade into them – he was knocked down but everyone followed and soon the fascists were hiding behind the police” – eyewitness account of the the arrival of the South East Alliance into the March for England pen.

Another year, another March for England, another victory for the anti-fascist massive. Around 100-150 dregs of the EDL with the assistance of 700 police to march 400 yards along a cordoned off seafront and back. Turn-out against the march was huge with an estimated 2,000 counter-protestors turning out inside the police organised cordon re-inforced with a 200 strong black block roaming around the perimeter.

Photos (see below) of the event show the extent to which Brighton stood up for itself well against the various EDL splinter groups that make up the March for England. The far-right pulled out all the stops for this one with march organiser Dave Smeeton hitting the road to drum up support for the event. The basic message was: Last year they caught us by surprise – this year we must get the numbers and show the ‘commies’ who’s boss. Fascists travelled from around the country to be in Brighton and the day showed just how dispirited the remnants of the English Defence league are.

THEY GO WHERE WE WANT

A large number of old EDL faces were spotted on the day but the likes of Shane Calvert, Jeff Marsh and Liam Pinkham just can’t attract a following any more and are reduced to making idle threats on the internet. Fascists had promised a weekend of carnage, but in the end Jeff ‘Casuals United’ Marsh @wegowherewewant was reduced to tweeting on Saturday that the Casuals ‘totally owned Worthing’ which is a nice way of spinning the fact that they were too frightened to come fifteen miles along the coast to Brighton for the night.

Meanwhile Brighton’s anti-fascist coalition was busy building in the town itself conducting daily street stalls and plastering the place with stickers and flyposters. It was obvious by contrast that the March for England have no base in the town and no grass-roots support.

ALL BETS ARE OFF?

Sussex police claimed that they were putting in place the biggest public order operation in the force’s history and the barrier erected along the seafront was expensive but in the event nothing prevented fash and anti-fa from settling their differences.

Plod had originaly annnounced that the MfE were to be bussed into their start point from one of the train stations. In the event they were simply allowed to walk through town in small groups – unsurprisingly SchNEWS started hearing of small punch-ups erupting throughout the North and South Laines. The first real flashpoint came when groups of EDL started to get to the startpoint of their demo while waving flags. One group was immediatley chased into a bookmakers on St James St while anti-fascists fought with the police to get at them. They were only rescued by the arrival of mounted cops. Meanwhile the South East Alliance were trying to sing their way badly into the cordon while being pelted with bottles.

Eventually march organisers decided that sufficient numbers had arrived for the march to begin. The MfE began their dismal cordoned off trudge at 1p.m – realistically police presence and preparation meant that there was little chance of blocking the route. However the MfE had to run the gauntlet of 2,000 jeering opponents, comprised of trade unionists, the Unite Against Fascism crowd, the Green Party and hundreds of ordinary Brightonians.

BATTERED FASH

Meanwhile groups of fash and anti-fa played hide and seek in through the South Lanes. Groups of fash were continually sent packing, retreating behind police lines. A few anti-fascists got thumped but the opposition came off far, far worse. The militant block eventually made its way to the proposed end point of the march and waited there to bait the march. This was when the hardcore racists headed up by Steve ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ Sands, launched their ill-fated kamikaze attack. Badly disguised as black block a handful of them began throwing punches at the masked up youth but were rapidly overwhelmed and were only just rescued by police after a proper pasting.(insert your own“ got a tasty smack in the mush off the lads/ claret all over the shop” type hooooligan narrative here). By the way Sands has pent the last two years bragging on facebook about ambushing anti-fascists during a 2010 demo in Brighton…best served cold eh?

TALE OF TWO MARCHES

The fash were marched back to the start point and police organised coaches began to arrive to cart them off to less fashionable parts of the country. A few hundred antis remained to see them on their way but the majority marched back through town under a rainbow flag and behind a banner marked ‘No Pasaran’. No cordons, no police, with the chant “Whose streets, our streets” ringing true. One particiapant told SchNEWS “This was a moment of true Brighton unity – we didn’t need cops to protect or facilitate our march because this is our town”. Video link

The above does not represent the whole story of the day which was often confusing and fragmentary with pockets and bursts of activity occurring across the whole town until late in the night. Anti-fascist coalition StopMFE have put out an appeal for accounts of the day.

Altogether thirteen anti-fascists were arrested and although arrest support was provided if you need support or think you have important witness evidence then please contact stopmfe@ymail.com

MALATESTA CALLING! ANTIFASCISTS!
We are pleased to announce that AK Press will be publishing Militant Antifascism: 100 Years Of Resistance by ‘Malatesta.’ The book covers militant antifascism in Europe from 1914 to the present. We need help with the following:
Accounts of Militant Antifascism in the UK from 1970s – Present. No names, nothing dodgy!
Any info on Militant anti-fascism in Europe, 1970s- Present especially Germany, France, Scandinavia, Croatia and Serbia.
Any relevant press cuttings, online references and book titles 1970s- Present.
Photos of demos, pickets etc., of a non-compromising nature and of publishable quality.
A free copy of the book will be given to those whose material we use substantially. Email us on Malatesta32@googlemail.com
Thanks, ‘Oor Wullie.’

PS: Accounts from repentant fash welcome – but only if you’re REALLY SORRY!

Jock Palfreeman is a 24 year old Australian who, on the 27th of December 2007,
had the courage to stand up against 16 fascist hooligans on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria.
He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to
the boys’ aid, he did his best to keep the fascists at bay by waving a knife at
them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice
but to defend himself. Andrey Monov, one of the racist gang, was stabbed and killed
and another, Anton Zahariev was injured. The Roma boys ran away.
Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has
been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been fined 375,000 Australian
dollars. Jock has spent much of the time he has already served in isolation due
to a legal loop hole used by the prison authorities.
Andrey Monovs father is well known in Bulgaria and at the funeral there were a
mixture of judges, police and politicians. Jocks trial was (not surprisingly) a
complete sham – yet another example of corruption and secret handshakes in the
judicial system. The prosecutions case was built on the witness statements made
by the other Nazis that were there that night, all claiming that Jock randomly
attacked the group and chased them with the intent of killing somebody. Key
people and possible witnesses for Jocks defence were never interviewed by police
and the CCTV footage from the scene miraculously went missing. Many of the
statements made at the time were not the same as the statements submitted to the
court by the prosecution.
Jocks statement has remained consistent from the night in question.

Jock appealed against his sentence and few court hearings took place between October 2010 and January 2011. Despite police officers confirming his version of events, one of the fascists making totally incoherent statements in court trying to explain why he changed his original testimony , mounting evidence of judicial errors during the initial trial and all other factors pointing to his innocence his sentence of 20 years was upheld. (For Jocks statement about this please go to: http://anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/jocks-sentence-upheld-after-an-appeal )

Jock now lost all the appeals and only one left to him is to appeal to European Union Court in Strasbourg. He is also trying to secure his transfer to Australia which proves difficult as Bulgarian prosecution service seems to be determined to keep him imprisoned in Bulgaria.

It is now more important than ever that we collectively put as much pressure on
the Bulgarian authorities as possible to accept Jocks transfer. We are in it for the long run- we need to let Jock now that he is not alone in his struggle and any solidarity actions can go long way to assure that. There will be Week of Actions organised at some point in March but we need to build up for that with protest messages being sent continuously as well and awareness being raised about the Jock’s case.
The more creative the actions the better. Don’t let Bulgarian state bury this courageous man alive in prison! Don’t let them think that they can get away with it!

Another important aspect is, especially for people in Australia , to keep pressure on their authorities to do something in Jocks case and officially demand his transfer as well.

Help us to bombard the Bulgarian Authorities with letters of protest and
requests for Jocks appeal to be accepted. It is also vital that we we send as many protest messages to prosecutors directly responsible for blocking his transfer.
(please see below for a list of addresses).

If you want us to help promote your events send us the details atanarchosolidarity@yahoo.co.uk
Ideally protest letters are best written in your own words BUT we have provided
a sample letter (attached) that can be sent if you do not want to write your
own. Just print it out, sign it and post it, it’s as simple as that. Feel free to
reprint it and distribute it to anyone you think may send a copy.

Finally, please write to Jock, even if it’s only a ‘good luck’ postcard. Any
letters and postcards help to keep Jock feeling positive and high spirited and
all are gratefully received. You can write to Jock at the following address:
Jock Palfreeman,
Sofia Central Prison,
21 General Stoletov Boulevard,
Sofia 1309,
BULGARIA

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you in regards to Australian National Jock Palfreeman.

Mr. Palfreeman is currently imprisoned in Sofia Central Prison in Bulgaria.
After defending two young innocent boys from a viscous attack by a group of
drunken football hooligans, and later being forced to defend himself against the
same assailants, he was sentenced to twenty years incarceration under charges of
murder and attempted murder.

He is clearly only guilty of causing accidental death while using self defence.

Mr. Palfreeman witnessed the gang (of around 16 men) attacking the two boys and
ran to their aid. While trying to keep the gang at bay he suffered a viscous
attack and was left with no choice but to defend himself. His version of events
has remained consistent since the night in question and is supported by numerous
witnesses. All of whom are prepared to testify in his defence.

It has since transpired that at his trial, to my astonishment, key people and
possible witnesses were never interviewed by police, the CCTV footage from the
scene went missing and many of the statements that were submitted to the court
by the prosecution were not the same as the statements made (by the same people)
on the night in question.
Anything working in favour of Mr. Palfreemans’ defence was completely
disregarded by the judge and the prosecutions case was built on the witness
statements made by the football hooligans that initially attacked the two boys,
all claiming that Mr. Palfreeman randomly attacked them and chased them with the
intent of killing somebody.
The trial was a farce so were all appeals

I ask that the Bulgarian Authorities allow him to be transferred to Australia where he can be closer to his family and stop their attempts to try and keep him imprisoned in Bulgaria.

We will continue showing our solidarity and highlighting his case until we are satisfied with the progress.

Mr. Palfreeman selflessly saved the lives of two young boys, risking his own
safety and costing him his own freedom. He should be deemed a hero, not a cold
blooded killer!

Some further details of the prison can be found below, though lots of the information given on the page is generic. Importantly Austen can no longer receive books. In addition you can only send him stamps if the are already affixed to an envelope with the address written in pen.

If there is any other important information, or any changes to the above, then we will of course post it up here.

At Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday August 19th Jonathan Wood – one of the anti-fascists found guilty of “conspiracy to commit violent disorder” in June – was given a suspended sentence.

The convictions of Jonathan and the six other anti-fascists were complete travesties, but we are over the moon that our friend and comrade avoided being sent to prison, as this was a real possibility for him. In the end, Jonathan was given a non-custodial sentence for reasons relating to his personal circumstances.

Prisoners had been moved to different nicks now, their current addresses and prison guildelines are in this link:

Six antifascists were recently fitted-up and sent to prison. Because of ongoing legal issues, for the moment we are unable to say more about their case, but a full report will eventually be issued. Suffice to say, they have been well and truly fucked over and deserve our fullest support and solidarity. Please write to them. As always, assume your letters are being read by our enemies and ensure you do not compromise your own security or that of others. Also please note that Thomas Blak and Austin Jackson are as yet unsentenced. For advice on writing to prisoners see the Leeds ABC website. La lucha continua!

Anti-fascists paint bombed a Brighton pub on Monday (19th) night. The Railway Bell was the meeting point for this year’s March for England (see SchNEWS 769) and has been used by the EDL on previous occasions.

Though a splattering of paint is unlikely to cause the fascist hordes to flee, it is the third such incident since the march and this minor economic warfare can deter venues from hosting thugs in future.

Organisers of March for England (MFE) in Brighton revealed their true colours today. Despite claims made by Matt Silva (MFE spokesman) in a press release last week, that members of the English Defence League (EDL) and English Nationalist Alliance (ENA) would not be made welcome at their event, the number of recognised EDL and ENA members made up the majority of the attendees. Exposing the MFE organisers as outright liars and proving that what they say cannot be trusted.

St. Georges day celebrations were yet again high jacked by the far right today. The MFE march was far from the family event it claimed it would be. Participants of the march hurled racist and homophobic abuse at passers by and anti-fascist protesters whilst being escorted through town by the police. Sussex police did all they could to make the day as carefree as possible for the far right by using kettling tactics against anti-fascist demonstrators and making ‘preventative’ arrests, while the organisers of the march made absolutely no attempt to discourage the abusive behaviour.

Not fooled by their attempts to paint a liberal image of themselves ( ie making false statements and waving a rainbow flag whilst shouting “You lot take it up the arse!”) the march was interrupted by anti-fascist demonstrations throughout the day and the MFE didn’t quite get the stroll in the sunshine they may have been expecting.

We will continue to oppose any attempts by the far-right to spread their vile and divisive ideology.